Car cover assembly and a method of using the same

Abstract

A car cover assembly, having a base, a cover body, a cap and a storage body for the cover body; the base is removably mounted onto a car surface; the cap is removably or fixedly connected to the base; the cover body and the storage body are pressed between the base and the cap; the base and the cap clamp and fix the cover body and the storage body; after the cover body is completely folded, it is stored inside the storage body. The car cover assembly can be placed at anywhere on the car for use. A method of using the car cover is also provided.

Claims

1. A car cover assembly, comprising a base, a cover body, a cap and a storage body that stores the cover body; the base is removably mounted on a car surface; the cap is removably or fixedly connected onto the base; the cover body and the storage body are pressed between the base and the cap; the base and the cap clamp and fix the cover body and the storage body; the cover body is entirely stored inside the storage body when being completely folded: an upper surface of the base is provided with a buckling groove or a buckle; correspondingly, a lower surface of the cap is provided with a corresponding buckle or a corresponding buckling groove; the buckle provided on one of the base or the cap is fitted into the corresponding buckling groove provided on another one of the base or the cap so that the cap is removably fitted onto the base, thereby clamping and fixing the cover body and the storage body between the base and the cap.

2. The car cover assembly of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the base is provided with vacuum suction cups; the base adheres to the car surface via the vacuum suction cups, so that the base is removably mounted onto the car surface.

3. The car cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage body has a bag shape and is capable of being flattened; when the cover body is used over the car, the storage body is substantially flattened without bulging that affects the use of the cover body; when the cover body is folded, the storage body is pulled up from a flattened shape to resume the bag shape to store the cover body inside; an opening of the storage body is provided with hook and loop fasteners or tightening strings; when the cover body is stored inside the storage body, the hook and loop fasteners or the tightening strings are used to close the opening of the storage body to prevent the stored cover body from falling out of the storage body.

4. The car cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage body comprises two or more straps that cross one another at a respective middle point thereof; an intersection of the straps is connected to the cover body, and is fixed between the base and the cap; a plurality of strings or cords are used to connect every adjacent extended part of the straps which extends out of the intersection, thereby forming a net shape structure; free ends of the straps are provided with hook and loop fasteners or tightening strings for mutual connections thereof when the storage body is pulled upward for storing the cover body inside the storage body; the straps of the storage body lay flat and extend horizontally and outwardly from the base without affecting the use of the cover body when the cover body is in use over the car; the straps are configured to be pulled upwards so that they form a shape of a meshed bowl in which the cover body is received and once the cover body is positioned within the meshed bowl, the hook and loop fasteners or the tightening strings provided at the free ends of the straps are used to connect adjacent free ends of the straps to complete storage of the cover body inside the storage body.

5. The car cover assembly of claim 4, wherein the strings or cords connecting the straps are made of resilient material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a car cover assembly according to the prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the car cover assembly of FIG. 1 in an alternative mounting position according to prior art.

(3) FIG. 3 is a structural view of the car cover assembly of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the car cover assembly in an installed position according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is the enlarged portion A indicated in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 shows the use of the car cover assembly of FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 7 shows the car cover assembly of FIG. 4 wherein the base of the car cover assembly is provided with a rotatable structure.

(8) FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the base of the car cover assembly as shown in FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the storage body of the car cover assembly of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The embodiments of the present invention will be further described clearly and thoroughly with reference to the drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some but not all of the possible embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments which can be obtained by a person skilled in this field of art without any inventive efforts based on the teachings of the embodiments of the present invention should also fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Embodiment 1

(11) FIGS. 4-9 illustrate a detailed structure of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the car cover assembly can be installed at the front portion of the car at the beginning of use. Alternatively, the car cover assembly can be positioned at a top portion or at a rear portion of the car at the beginning of use. Therefore, the present invention has a more flexible installation position which can be adjusted according to practical needs. FIGS. 4-5 illustrate the detailed structure of the car cover assembly of the present invention, comprising a base 1, a cover body 2, a cap 3 and a storage body 4 that stores the cover body 2; the base 1 is removably mounted on a car surface; the cap 3 is removably or fixedly connected onto the base 1; the cover body 2 and the storage body 4 are pressed between the base 1 and the cap 3; the base 1 and the cap 3 clamp and fix the cover body 2 and the storage body 4; the cover body 2 is entirely stored inside the storage body 4 when being completed folded (FIG. 4).

(12) FIG. 5 shows the multiple possible connecting structures between the base 1 and the cap 3. Any one or any two or more than two of these multiple connecting structures can be used for connecting the base 1 and the cap 3. Specifically, according to a connecting structure between the base and the cap, an upper surface of the base 1 is provided with a buckling groove 11 or a buckle 12; correspondingly, a lower surface of the cap 3 is provided with a corresponding buckle 12 or a corresponding buckling groove 11; the buckle 12 provided on one of the base or cap is fitted into the corresponding buckling groove 11 provided on another one of the base or cap so that the cap 3 is removably fitted onto the base 1. When it is required to connect the cap 3 and the base 1, align the buckle 12 and the corresponding buckling groove 11 to fit the buckle into the buckling groove, thereby fixing the cap 3 onto the base 1, and hence fixing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 to the base 1. When it is required to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, disengage the buckle 12 from the corresponding buckling groove 11 to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, thereby releasing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 from the base 1. The above described operations are simple for convenient installation and removal.

(13) Alternatively, a connecting structure between the base and the cap can be as follows: an upper surface of the base 1 is provided with a tenon 13 or a mortise 14; correspondingly, a lower surface of the cap 3 is provided with a corresponding mortise 14 or a corresponding tenon 13; the tenon 13 provided on one of the base or cap is fitted into the corresponding mortise 14 provided on another one of the base or cap so that the cap 3 is removably fitted onto the base 1. When it is required to connect the cap 3 and the base 1, align the tenon 13 and the corresponding mortise 14 to fit the tenon into the mortise, thereby fixing the cap 3 onto the base 1, and hence fixing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 to the base 1. When it is required to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, disengage the tenon 13 from the corresponding mortise 14 to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, thereby releasing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 from the base 1. The above described operations are simple for convenient installation and removal.

(14) Alternatively, a connecting structure between the base and the cap can be as follows: the base 1 is provided with a first through hole 15; the cap 3 is provided with a second through hole 16 positioned correspondingly to the first through hole 15; the second through hole 16 is fixed in position corresponding to the first through hole 15 by using a locking pin 5 so that the cap 3 is removably fitted onto the base 1. When it is required to connect the cap 3 and the base 1, pass through the second through hole 16 and the first through hole 15 using the locking pin 5 to fix the cap 3 onto the base 1, and hence fixing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 to the base 1. When it is required to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, disengage the locking pin 5 out from the first through hole 15 to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, thereby releasing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 from the base 1. The above described operations are simple for convenient installation and removal.

(15) Alternatively, a connecting structure between the base and the cap can be as follows: a protrusion 31 is configured at an outer periphery of each of the base 1 and the cap 3; a locking block 6 is also provided to lock onto the protrusions 31 of the base 1 and of the cap 3 simultaneously to press and fix the base 1 and cap 3 against each other and also to clamp and fix the cover body 2 and the storage body 4 between the base 1 and the cap 3. When it is required to connect the cap 3 and the base 1, placing the cap 3 over the base 1, and then using the locking block 6 to lock against the protrusions 31 of the base 1 and of the cap 3 simultaneously. Due to position limiting function of the locking block 6, the cap 3 is tightly pressed against the base 1, thereby fixing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 to the base 1. When it is required to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, disengage the locking block 6 from the protrusions 31 to remove the cap 3 from the base 1, thereby releasing the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 from the base 1. The above described operations are simple for convenient installation and removal.

(16) Apart from the several connecting structures described above which also allow disconnection of the same, the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 can be connected or pressed together as one integral structure via adhesion, hot pressing or fusion, and the base 1, the storage body 4 and the cover body 2 formed as one integral structure, and the cap 3 are then connected also via adhesion, hot pressing or fusion to form three stacked non-separable layers.

(17) A lower surface of the base 1 is provided with vacuum suction cups; the base 1 adheres to a car surface via the vacuum suction cups, so that the base 1 can be removably mounted onto the car surface. When it is required mount the base 1 onto the car surface, the user press the vacuum suction cups against the car surface to quickly adhere the base onto the car surface. By tearing off the vacuum suction cups from the car surface, the base 1 can be quickly dismounted from the car surface. Therefore, mounting and dismounting of the base 1 is conveniently achieved.

(18) The storage body 4 has a bag shape which is capable to be flattened. When the cover body covers the car surface during use, the storage body 4 is flattened and is not so obviously bulged as to affect the use of the cover body. When the cover body is folded, the storage body 4 may adopt the bag shape to store the folded cover body 2, as shown in FIG. 4.

(19) A method of using the car cover assembly, comprising the following steps:

(20) 1. Removably mounting a base 1 on a car surface according to the need and preference of a user; wherein the base 1 can be mounted at a front, top or rear portion of a car, so that a storage body 4 of a cover body 2 of the car assembly is unable to move tangentially on the car surface;

(21) 2. Opening up the storage body 4, unfolding the cover body 2, by using a portion of the base 1 that is fixed with the cover body as a point of fixation, pulling and stretching out the cover body 2; due to the point of fixation, the cover body 2 will not displace entirely when being pulled and stretched out, therefore the cover body 2 can be conveniently stretched out to cover the car (FIG. 6);

(22) 3. When it is no longer required to use the cover body 2 which then requires storage, folding the cover body 2 into a smaller piece on the base 1, pulling up the storage body 4 from a flattened condition into a bag shape to include the cover body 2 inside the storage body 4; after the cover body 2 is completely inside the storage bag 4, closing an opening of the storage body 4 by using hook and loop fastener or binding straps provided at the opening of the storage body 4, so that the cover body 2 will not fall out of the storage body 4;

(23) 4. Separating the base 1 from the car surface along a direction perpendicularly away from the car surface to disengage the entire car cover assembly from the car; and finally storing the car cover assembly at a desired place.

Embodiment 2

(24) Same as embodiment 1 except for the following: the lower surface of the base 1 is provided with an electrostatic sticker 17; the base 1 adheres to the car surface through the electrostatic sticker 17, thereby removably mounting the base 1 onto the car surface. When it is required to mount the base 1 onto the car surface, the base 1 can be quickly adhered to the car surface by using the electrostatic sticker 17, and the base 1 can be quickly removed from the car surface by tearing off the electrostatic sticker 17 manually. Therefore, mounting and dismounting of the base are conveniently achieved.

Embodiment 3

(25) Same as embodiment 1 except for the following: the lower surface of the base 1 is provided with magnetic material 18; the base 1 is magnetically attached to the car surface through the magnetic material 18, thereby removably mounting the base 1 onto the car surface. When it is required to mount the base 1 onto the car surface, the base 1 can be quickly attached magnetically to the car surface via the magnetic force of the magnetic material 18, and the base 1 can be quickly removed from the car surface by disengaging the magnetic material 18 manually from the car surface. Therefore, mounting and dismounting of the base are conveniently achieved.

Embodiment 4

(26) Same as embodiment 1 except for the following: the lower surface of the base 1 is provided with a self-adhesive layer; the base 1 adheres to the car surface through the self-adhesive layer, thereby removably mounting the base 1 onto the car surface. When it is required to mount the base 1 onto the car surface, the base 1 can be quickly adhered to the car surface via the self-adhesive layer, and the base 1 can be quickly removed from the car surface by tearing off the self-adhesive layer manually from the car surface. Therefore, mounting and dismounting of the base are conveniently achieved.

Embodiment 5

(27) Same as embodiment 1 except for the following: The base 1 comprises a rotatable element 1-1 and a fixed element 1-2. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotatable element 1-1 is connectable with the cap 3 so as to clamp and fix the cover body 2 and the storage body 4 between the rotatable element 1-1 and the cap 3. The fixed element 1-2 is removably connected to the car surface via vacuum suction cups 51 (or magnetic members 18, electrostatic stickers 17, self-adhesive members 19). The rotatable element 1-1 and the fixed element 1-2 can be connected directly by insertion to form a rotatable structure with the rotatable element rotatable with respect to the fixed element; alternatively, the rotatable element 1-1 and the fixed element 1-2 can be connected via rotating components (e.g. connecting shaft and bearing) to form the rotatable structure. The base 1 according to the present embodiment has the fixed element 1-2 removably connected to the car surface, while the rotatable element 1-1 on the fixed element can rotate and perform positional adjustment along with the cover body 2, so that the cover body 2 can be more easily adjusted to a more accurate position when being used on the car, thereby reducing the amount of work and difficulty of adjusting the cover body on the car, providing obviously improved convenience.

Embodiment 6

(28) Same as embodiment 1 except for the following: The storage body 4 comprises two straps 4-1 forming a cross shape. As shown in FIG. 9, an intersection of the straps 4-1 is connected to the cover body 2 (not shown in FIG. 8), and being fixed between the base 1 and the cap 3 (not shown in FIG. 9). A plurality of strings or cords 4-2 are used to connect every adjacent extended parts of the straps extended out of the intersection, thereby forming a net shape structure. Free ends of the straps 4-1 are provided with hook and loop fasteners 4-3 or tightening strings 4-4 or buckles 4-5 or magnetic pieces 4-6 (FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of all these different choices at the ends of the straps, however it should be noted that all these different choices will not appear on the straps all at the same time) for mutual connections of the corresponding ends of the straps 4-1 when the storage body 4 is pulled upward storing the cover body 2 inside the storage body. According to this embodiment, the straps 4-1 of the storage body 4 lay flat and extend horizontally and outwardly without affecting the use of the cover body when the cover body is in use over the car. To store up the cover body, pull up the straps 4-1 so that they form a shape like a meshed bowl, and the cover body 2 can then be stored inside; finally, use any one kind of the hook and loop fasteners 4-3 or tightening strings 4-4 or buckles 4-5 or magnetic pieces 4-6 provided at the end of the straps to connect the corresponding ends of the straps to complete storage of the folded cover body 2 inside the storage body 4.

(29) The strings or cords 4-2 connecting the straps 4-1 are made of resilient material such as rubber bands or plastic bands. Resilient strings or cords can achieve better storage effect of the cover body 2 since it is thus easier to open up the storage body to easily put the cover body inside; after the cover body is stored inside, the resilient force of the strings or cords maintains the cover body in a relatively small size and so the cover body will not expand the storage body from inside the storage body, thereby saving storage space and benefiting to portability and mobility of the car cover assembly.

(30) The above embodiments are the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention should not be limited to the above described embodiments. Any changes, modifications, replacements, combinations and simplification of the present invention without deviating from the essence and principle of the present invention should be considered alternative configurations with equivalent technical effects and should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.